𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, regulus black

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟗: 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

Rune's arrival in Marrakesh ignited a flurry of sensations. The air was thick with the tantalizing aroma of spices and the vibrant colors of the bustling city were a feast for her eyes. Yet, amidst the enchanting beauty of the city, she found herself seated across from Honorius in a dimly lit hotel restaurant, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

As she sipped from her mug of tea, Honorius narrowed his eyes at her with thinly veiled contempt and said, "Can you get on with what you insisted we come here first for? Unlike you, I have more important matters to attend to than idle chatter." 

Rune placed the mug down on her table and reached into her bag. She pulled out two hefty sacks, galleons converted into pounds and slid it across the table to him. 

Rune's pulse quickened as Honorius scrutinized the contents of the sacks, his gaze piercing through her like a knife. She felt the weight of his disdain bearing down on her, but she refused to let it break her resolve. "I have enough to buy my freedom."

She reached into her pocked and produced a crumpled page, worn from her constant handling and filled with descriptions and their amounts.

Honorius's eyes widened in disbelief as he scanned the page, his expression shifting from incredulity to begrudging acknowledgment. She was paying him back the full sum of training her, housing her and feeding her over the even full years she spent with him and all the holidays in between.

 "And where, pray tell, did you acquire such a sum?" he demanded, his voice laced with skepticism.

With a steely determination, Rune met his gaze head-on. "I won it," she stated firmly. 

Honorius's lips curled into a sneer, his tone dripping with disdain. "And what of all the books and jewels and gowns and toys you so love? Who will be paying me back for those?"

Rune's jaw clenched in frustration. "Those were gifts," she shot back, her voice laced with an edge of anger.

Honorius's laughter echoed through the restaurant, the sound grating on Rune's nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Gifts? What makes you think I would ever stoop so low as to gift a beastly little creature like you? You think yourself worthy of such luxuries?" he taunted, his words dripping with malice. "Those were requests, and you will pay me back for them before you even think about leaving."

Rune's frustration boiled over. "That's not fair," she spat, her voice trembling with emotion. "You said when we buy our freedom, we only need enough to pay for the training and living expenses! Everything that came with performing was on you!" 

Honorius's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint as he leaned in closer, his voice dripping with malice. "Show me the proof. Do you have it written somewhere?"

"Sakura bought her freedom like that," she retorted, her tone daring him to refute her.

"Sakura was not a spoilt little brat like you," Honorius countered, his words like a slap in the face. "She went where I chose, ate what I gave her, performed as needed, and never demanded little trinkets as rewards."

Rune's heart sank at his words, the truth of his cruelty hitting her like a physical blow. "You should have refused me then!" she exclaimed; her voice raw with emotion. "You should have told me it came with a price."

Honorius's lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Everything comes with a price, darling Rune," he murmured, his tone chillingly calm. "There are no favors in show business."

Rune's voice trembled with anger as she stared Honorius down, "You are a fraud," she declared, her words ringing out in the tense silence of the restaurant. "This is my payment. I am buying my freedom."

She rose from her seat, her eyes blazing with defiance as she prepared to make her exit. But before she could take a single step, a ring of circus workers surrounded her, their faces stoic as they blocked her path, leaving her trapped with no means of escape.

Honorius's voice cut through the air like a knife, his tone cold and calculated. "You are far too low on the payment, sweetheart," he sneered, his eyes glittering with anger. "Stop acting up and let us return to the circus. We have performances lined up."

Rune's heart sank as she realized she was trapped and truly outnumbered. Her dreams of freedom slipping further from her grasp with every breath. 

Her resolve wavered for a moment, but then she straightened her spine, her eyes blazing. "I will never perform for you again," she declared, her voice carrying a finality that echoed through the room. "You can adorn me with shiny jewels, dress me in the finest gowns, and parade me onto that stage but I will no longer shift for you."

Honorius's facade of calm shattered in an instant, his anger erupting like a volcano. With a swift motion, he lashed out at her, his hand connecting with her cheek in a stinging slap. 

Rune staggered backward, her hand instinctively flying to her face as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

As she looked up at him, Honorius's expression softened, a twisted semblance of affection flickering in his eyes. "Look at what you made me do," he sighed, his voice tinged with remorse. "Why must you say such nonsense?"

Drawing closer, he reached out with a gentleness that belied his earlier violence, his touch feather light as he traced a finger over the reddened mark on her skin. His words dripped with saccharine sweetness as he spoke, his words a cruel mockery of affection. "I love you, Rune. You're incredibly dear to me."

A too-perfect smile graced his lips as he continued, his voice laced with calculated charm. "Let's return to the circus, shall we? I'll arrange for some kingfisher, and we'll enjoy a lovely dinner together tonight. You'll see, everything will soon return to normal, and I'll graciously overlook this little outburst, won't I?"

Rune's heart sank as she gazed into Honorius's eyes, the tendrils of fear weaving through her. She knew his words were as hollow as the empty promises of a broken dream. Yet, she found herself nodding in reluctant agreement.

A triumphant gleam flickered in Honorius's eyes as he seized her arm with a firm grip, his touch both possessive and commanding. "That's my lovely Rune," he murmured, his voice a velvet whisper.

As they slipped away from the restaurant and into the waiting car, the echoes of Rune's defiance lingered briefly before fading into the darkness, swallowed by the abyss of shackles.